Breaking With Brett Jensen

Tune in here to this ​Tuesday's edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks the show off by talking about the news he broke on the FBI & DOJ investigating potential financial irregularities involving Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The DOJ first confirmed to Brett that an ongoing investigation is underway, while CMSater acknowledged it and said it would cooperate with authorities. 

Jensen is joined by North Carolina State Representative David Willis, chairman of the House Education Committee, to discuss the ongoing investigations involving CMS and the possibility of breaking the dis...

Tune in here to this ​Friday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen discusses a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department press conference about a shooting in northwest Charlotte that resulted in the death of 4-year-old Caleb Flax. Jensen shares comments from Chief Estella Patterson, who described the incident as a tragedy that affected not only Flax’s immediate family but also the wider community. Patterson announced that five people had been arrested in the case and emphasized that the investigation remains active.

Additionally, Deputy Chief Brian Butler provided a detailed account of the investigation. Butler said...

Tune in here to this ​Thursday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen shares his interview with former NBA player Enes Kanter and Congressman Mark Harris at the 2026 North Carolina Salt & Light Conference. His conversation with Kanter and Harris centers on men competing in women’s sports. Harris discusses federal legislation, executive actions and ongoing investigations related to school sports and gender policies. Kanter discusses the motives behind his decision to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft.

Later, Jensen shares his interview with Congressman Tom Emmer, who serves as majority whip in the U.S. Hous...

Tune in here to this ​Wednesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen is joined in studio by Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden. McFadden begins the interview by addressing the proposed $400,000 consulting contract presented by former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board Chair Stephanie Sneed, Raki McGregor and former CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings to the Sheriff’s Office. He also addresses overcrowding at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center in Uptown Charlotte and the recent reopening of Jail North.

Later, McFadden addresses the staffing situation at Jail North. He details how many additional staff members would be need...

Tune in here to this ​Tuesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing new developments involving new Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board Chair Gregory “Dee” Rankin. According to Jensen's post on X, Rankin pleaded guilty to felony charges of conspiracy to commit mail, wire and bank fraud in 2008. Jensen notes that Rankin received probation and home confinement and was required to disclose his felony conviction when filing for office.

Jensen also discusses an alleged proposal involving former CMS board chair Stephanie Sneed, former consultant Raki McGregor and others. Jensen notes...

Tune in here to this ​Monday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing his recent trip to Asia, with stops in Beijing, Wuhan, Hong Kong and Seoul, South Korea. He recounts how Typhoon Dujuan affected his trip, canceling flights and forcing him to take an alternate route back to Charlotte. He also describes his visit to Wuhan, including a stop at the site of the city’s “wet market.”

Later, Jensen recaps several stories he broke involving Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The stories included efforts to remove Board Chair Stephani...

Tune in here to this ​Friday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Scott Hamilton fills in for Breaking Brett Jensen. Scott kicks off the show by reflecting on the 37th anniversary of Hurricane Hugo and its severe impact on the Carolinas. He then contrasts Hugo’s destruction with the unusually quiet 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. He notes that no named storms have formed yet in the Atlantic and contrasts that with the significant storm activity in the Pacific.

To provide additional context, Scott speaks with WBTV meteorologist Rachel Coulter. Coulter notes that the unusually late start to t...

Tune in here to this ​Thursday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Scott Hamilton fills in for Breaking Brett Jensen. Scott kicks off the show by discussing the backlash over Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ decision to fire former Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill. He notes that the circumstances surrounding Hill’s leave, reinstatement and subsequent firing remain unclear. For additional context on the situation, he speaks with The Charlotte Observer's education reporter Rebecca Noel.

Later, Scott speaks with former U.S. Secret Service special agent Billy Davis about President Donald Trump’s planned attendance at the Texas-Tennessee football game in...

Tune in here to this ​Wednesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Scott Hamilton fills in for Breaking Brett Jensen. Scott kicks off the show by discussing the abrupt firing of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill. He questions why Hill was terminated “for convenience” despite the results of an independent investigation into her conduct. He also discusses the ongoing investigation into financial irregularities within CMS by North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek and Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather. For additional perspective on the CMS situation, Scott revisits former CMS school board member Rhonda Cheek’s comments...

Tune in here to this ​Tuesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Scott Hamilton fills in for Breaking Brett Jensen. Scott kicks off the show by discussing the Charlotte City Council’s approval of the I-77 toll lane project. He breaks down the details and proposed funding outlined in the project, which was approved by a 7-4 council vote.

Scott also discusses the sentencing of former Charlotte City Council member Tiawana Brown. He notes that Brown was sentenced to 10 months in prison Tuesday, months after pleading guilty to a federal wire fraud charge. He then revi...

Tune in here to this ​Monday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Scott Hamilton fills in for Breaking Brett Jensen. Scott kicks off the show by discussing Charlotte City Council’s upcoming vote on the I-77 toll lane project. Scott notes that the project would run from Uptown to the South Carolina border, with an estimated cost of $3.2 billion.

For additional perspective, Scott speaks with Andy Weber of Queen City News, who has closely covered the controversial project. Weber describes the City Council meeting from the previous week, where council members held a public discussion abou...

Tune in here to this ​Friday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Scott Hamilton fills in for Breaking Brett Jensen. Scott kicks off the show by discussing President Donald Trump’s decision to ban several media outlets from the White House. He notes that the ban includes CNN, MS NOW and Politico, with Trump accusing the outlets of being dishonest and producing “fake news.” Additionally, he compares the action with Trump’s earlier exclusion of The Associated Press after it continued to use the term “Gulf of Mexico” rather than “Gulf of America.”

Listen here for all of this an...

Tune in here to this ​Tuesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Scott Hamilton fills in for Breaking Brett Jensen. Scott kicks off the show by discussing recent comments from AI expert David Krueger. Krueger warns that artificial intelligence could pose an existential threat if it is not properly controlled. Scott then discusses the U.S. Air Force’s reported deployment of undisclosed “on-orbit space control weapons.” He explains how the deployment raises questions about potential space-based military competition involving Russia and China.

Listen here for all of this and more on Breaking With Brett Jensen.<...

Tune in here to this ​Monday's edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen is off and we're joined by Scott Hamilton to talk about the Panthers’ historically rough season opener and the controversy surrounding the proposed renaming of Lake Ontario to Lake America. Scott breaks down the Panthers’ 59-37 loss to the Chicago Bears, noting the team’s fifth consecutive season-opening defeat and the record-setting 96 combined points scored in the game. He also looks ahead to the Panthers’ upcoming matchup against the Atlanta Falcons and the need for the team to make adjus...

Many CMS Board members want to replace the current CMS Board Chair, and it will be on the next meeting agenda. Matt mercer of Breitbart is reporting on a Democratic state house candidate in western Guilford County NC has posted some wild things including a call for a insurrection in the deep south among other things.

Republican US Senatorial Candidate Michael Whatley joins Brett.

David Tepper comments to local reporters.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this ​Thursday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing new information he received about adaptive testing in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. He notes that the information further changes the interpretation of results the district announced at the beginning of the school year. Additionally, he uses this example to continue questioning CMS’ claims about improved test scores.

Later, Jensen speaks with U.S. Rep. Mark Harris about an upcoming U.S. House Judiciary field hearing in Charlotte focused on health care markets, fraud, competition and challenges faci...

Tune in here to this ​Wednesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Deputy Superintendent Melissa Balknight’s retirement, effective Jan. 1. He notes that Balknight’s decision follows the resignation of Chief Human Resources Officer Angela Wood and the retirement of Chief Financial Officer Kelly Kluttz.

Jensen then discusses Mooresville Mayor Chris Carney’s resignation, effective Sept. 30. Jensen criticizes the town council for defending the mayor and questions legal efforts to prevent the release of video footage of the alleged incident. Additionally, Jensen shares audio from a n...

Tune in here to this ​Tuesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill’s statement about her suspension. Jensen notes that during the statement, Hill addressed whether she believed she created a hostile work environment within CMS. He explains what he has learned about the district’s work environment from current and former district staff members and criticizes Hill for her staffing decisions. Additionally, he compares CMS’ administrative spending with that of Wake County.

Listen here for all of this and more on...

Tune in here to this ​Friday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen discusses an upcoming North Carolina Democratic Party rally in Union County. Jensen notes several politicians who will attend the event at the Union County Agricultural Center, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom. He questions whether Newsom’s appearance will be effective for North Carolina Democrats and examines the decision to hold the rally in Union County. He also discusses the likelihood of former Gov. Roy Cooper attending the event, as well as advertising in the North Carolina Senate race.

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Tune in here to this ​Thursday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen discusses Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ release of its 2025-26 test scores. Jensen notes that CMS officials claim the district’s recent test scores have surpassed pre-COVID levels. He argues that this information is misleading to the public, explaining a new testing strategy that CMS and other North Carolina school districts have implemented. He then explains how this change affects the reported test scores and compares CMS’ results with those in Wake County.

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Tune in here to this ​Wednesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing his exclusive in-studio interview with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Jensen notes that this is his second interview with Bessent, following their previous conversation in Asheville. In the interview, Bessent discusses the future of interest rates and gas prices. He also talks about the situation with Canadian tariffs and praises Charlotte’s economic growth and the broader economic momentum across the Carolinas.

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Tune in here to this ​Tuesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing a CMPD officer-involved shooting in a northeast Charlotte neighborhood. Jensen explains that the shooting occurred after a woman with a domestic violence protection order reported that her partner was coming to her home with a gun. He then breaks down what happens procedurally after an officer-involved shooting. Jensen also discusses the incident in the broader context of the dangers faced by police officers and explains why the situation became dangerous so quickly.

Listen here fo...

Tune in here to this ​Monday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing the planned opening of Mecklenburg County’s Jail North. Jensen notes that the facility, which was scheduled to open Sept. 1, is intended to address severe overcrowding in the county jail. He explains that although staffing at the facility is now sufficient, a new obstacle has emerged: funding approval from the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners. He then addresses the jail’s overcrowding in the broader context of the criminal justice system and the potential consequences if the co...

Tune in here to this ​Thursday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing the possibility of a debate between Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley. Jensen explains that there is significant speculation that Cooper’s campaign does not want him to participate in a debate and suggests reasons why that might be the case. He then contrasts the political debate experience of the two politicians and discusses Cooper’s response to a reporter who asked about his participation in a debate. Additionally, Jensen criticizes Cooper’s reluctance to answer questions from the...

Tune in here to this ​Wednesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by speaking with Dr. David Barker, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education. Barker explains the Trump administration’s approach to higher education, which focuses on quality, affordability and fairness. He discusses the role of federal student loan limits in reducing college tuition and highlights the mission of Workforce Pell Grants.

Later, Jensen discusses the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools board meeting in which members voted on whether to release the investigation into Superintendent Dr...

Tune in here to this ​Tuesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ first day of school. He begins by connecting the first-day coverage to the controversy surrounding the previous week’s CMS press conference. He then criticizes Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill and the district’s handling of scrutiny surrounding its leadership and questions from the media. Additionally, Jensen focuses on the CMS school board’s upcoming vote on whether to release the findings of the Hill investigation. He shares his thoughts on the district’s decision to vote on t...

Tune in here to this ​Monday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen discusses the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police’s response to a recent Charlotte Observer article. The statement was issued in response to an Observer article that said the CMPD officers involved in tasing a pinned man also were involved in other controversial arrests. Jensen emphasizes that the statement, which was publicly posted on Facebook, was blunt. He then breaks down how the Observer’s reporting failed to address important information about the case and discusses his view of the newspaper’s broader editoria...

Tune in here to this ​Friday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen discusses Michael Whatley’s press conference at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police headquarters. Whatley begins his speech by arguing that former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper should be considered the worst governor in the state’s history. He then argues that recommendations from Cooper’s criminal justice task force led to several policies, including the release of 4,200 prisoners. Whatley then focuses on the death of Iryna Zarutska, who was fatally stabbed on Charlotte’s light rail last year by DeCarlos Brown Jr., who w...

Tune in here to this ​Thursday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by talking with Doug and Nicole Turpin about their lawsuit against Charlotte Latin School. Jensen explains that the Turpins filed the lawsuit in 2021 after expressing concerns about ideological and cultural changes at the private school, which ultimately led to their two children being expelled.

Attorney Jonathan Vogel, who represents the Turpins, breaks down the North Carolina Supreme Court’s decision and the broader message of the case. Additionally, the Turpins explain why they filed the lawsuit and...

Tune in here to this ​Wednesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by revisiting Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ back-to-school press conference. Jensen notes that during the event, Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill refused to answer questions about her suspension. He then questions whether North Carolina Auditor Dave Boliek could investigate the circumstances surrounding Hill’s suspension and the CMS investigation. To illustrate his point, he recalls Boliek’s investigation into the confidential payout to former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings in 2025.

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Tune in here to this Tuesday’s edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks the show off by talking about CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill’s controversial suspension and the district’s decision to limit questions about the investigation during its back-to-school press conference, highlighting Hill’s opening remarks and exchange with reporters, who pressed her about when she would address her own situation.

Later, Jensen is joined by North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek to discuss the findings of a new audit into the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), including concerns about safety...

Tune in here to this ​Monday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing North Carolina Auditor Dave Boliek’s audit of the Charlotte Area Transit System. Jensen notes that the report, which is a follow-up to the preliminary audit issued after the stabbing of Iryna Zarutska, details security concerns and failures in fare enforcement. He begins by breaking down the statistics and dollar figures related to fare evasion and discusses concerns over a lack of enforcement. Additionally, Jensen discusses another concerning figure from the report that details the financial figu...

Tune in here to this ​Friday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing the reinstatement of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill. Jensen recalls when the investigation into Hill began and his belief that there was a small possibility she would remain superintendent. He then examines why Hill was reinstated and the financial risks the district would have faced without an established cause for her termination. Additionally, he offers his interpretation of the official statement from the CMS school board regarding Hill.

Listen here for all of th...

Tune in here to this ​Thursday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

TJ Ritchie fills in for Breaking Brett Jensen. TJ kicks off the show by discussing the controversy surrounding the proposed Islamic center in Mooresville. He discusses his concerns about the Islamic concept of “taqiyya,” which, he says, permits Muslims to lie to advance Islam. He then introduces a PragerU documentary featuring Glenn Beck that details documents related to the Muslim Brotherhood. Additionally, he explains how the documentary is relevant to the debate over Islamic organizations in North Carolina.

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Tune in here to this ​Wednesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

TJ Ritchie fills in for Breaking Brett Jensen. TJ kicks off the show by discussing a news story involving Chris Watts, who was convicted of murdering his pregnant wife and two young daughters in 2018. TJ explains that Watts is currently receiving attention after reportedly becoming involved in a romantic relationship while serving a life sentence in prison. He also shares his thoughts on the psychology of prison relationships and remarks on Watts’ ties to North Carolina.

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Tune in here to this ​Monday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing the two federal lawsuits filed against Cabarrus County Schools. Jensen breaks down a lawsuit, which alleges that the school board is violating Title IX. He then criticizes the Cabarrus County Board of Education and its position on transgender access to bathrooms and locker rooms. Additionally, he breaks down the legal strategy behind the most recent lawsuit, filed Friday, and shares comments from the America First Legal attorney representing the plaintiffs in the cases against the district.

Tune in here to this ​Friday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by speaking with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Bessent begins the interview by explaining why Asheville was chosen for the G20 Finance Summit and discussing his personal ties to the North Carolina mountains. The discussion then shifts to financial literacy, where Bessent expresses his support for a bill to teach high school students about the topic. He also highlights the “Trump accounts” created through the Trump administration’s working families tax legislation.

Later, Bessent discusses the econ...

Tune in here to this ​Thursday's edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks the show off by talking about changes to North Carolina's early voting laws and Governor Josh Stein's expected veto of House Bill 958. The legislation shortens the early voting period for municipal elections and primary elections, while leaving general election early voting unchanged. Brett also examines voter turnout data from Mecklenburg County, noting that participation in recent primary and municipal elections has been relatively low despite the current early voting window.

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Tune in here to this ​Wednesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards' decision to end his reelection campaign. Jensen notes that Edwards, who represents the state's 11th Congressional District, posted a statement on social media saying that he had decided not to seek another term. He then details how the political landscape changed after the House Ethics Committee released its findings on Edwards earlier in the week and explains what happens next in the 11th District.

Later, Jensen shares his interview wi...

Tune in here to this ​Tuesday edition of Breaking With Brett Jensen!

Breaking Brett Jensen kicks off the show by discussing an update on North Carolina House Bill 328. Jensen recaps his interview from the previous show with Scott Brown and Jaime Daniell. He then notes that the North Carolina House Republican caucus held a closed-door meeting to debate the legislation, emphasizing that the bill has sparked debate within both political parties.

Later, Jensen discusses a recent incident in Gaston County involving the use of Flock cameras. He explains that the cameras flagged a wanted vehicle, al...